A Comparative Study of Chinese and Korean Novels During the Ming and Qing Dynasties: Focusing on Marriage and Love

Author: Li Hua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: China and North Korea (South Korea) have engaged in numerous frequent cultural exchanges throughout their long history, and literary exchange has been one of the most important aspects. The Joseon Dynasty roughly aligns with the Ming and Qing dynasties in terms of time, and over more than five hundred years, a large number of Chinese literary works, including classical fiction, were continuously transmitted to North Korea and accepted and imitated by local readers. Therefore, incorporating the spread of Chinese fiction in North Korea into the research scope has become an important topic for many comparative literature scholars in China and South Korea. This thesis primarily examines the theme of love and marriage in Chinese and North Korean fiction during the Ming and Qing periods. To date, there has been no specialized research on the comparative study of love and marriage motifs in Ming and Qing Chinese and North Korean fiction. Only in some other comparative literature studies on Chinese and North Korean fiction can one find brief discussions on North Korean love novels. Regrettably, these works do not provide a thorough and in-depth analysis of the love and marriage motifs in the fiction of the two countries. "Love and marriage" is the focal point of this thesis. The most important aspect of examining the love and marriage themes in the two countries is to combine the sociological and historical research methods that emphasize cultural context with the thematic methods of comparative literature, striving to analyze the interaction between the fiction of the two countries and the moral and life perspectives of their people. The thesis can be broadly divided into the following two aspects:
1. Love and marriage in both countries' fiction are influenced by Chinese Confucian thought. After the emergence and development of Chinese Confucianism, it not only had a profound impact on China but also spread to countries in East Asia, such as North Korea, where it blended with traditional thought and became an integral part of their cultural identity. During the Ming and Qing periods, both China and North Korea, whether in terms of authors or readers, were immersed in a shared Confucian cultural atmosphere, and they received the same Confucian concepts. Additionally, influenced by state policies and regulations, most writers, acting as "megaphones" for the state machine, inevitably reflected the state's ideology through their writings.
2. The expression of love and marriage in the fiction of the two countries differs. Shared ideas have led to similar themes and emotions in the literature of both countries. While Ming and Qing Chinese and North Korean fiction may appear unified, it cannot be denied that it is also diverse. This is particularly evident in the expression of love and marriage, especially in the handling of "emotion" (qing) and "reason" (li) in fiction. For example, the "mutual affection" between men and women is expressed more reservedly and subtly in North Korean fiction compared to Ming and Qing fiction. In contrast, Ming and Qing fiction demonstrates a more outward and bold expression of emotion and content, as well as a higher number of erotic novels.
I believe it is not surprising that the expression of love and marriage in the fiction of the two countries exhibits similar phenomena, as shared Confucian thought allows their fiction to explore similar themes and emotions. The differences, however, arise because North Korean society naturally adopted Chinese Confucian culture while retaining its deeply rooted traditional national ideology. It cannot be denied that the strong emphasis on Confucianism during the Joseon Dynasty influenced the reserved and restrained expression of love and marriage in North Korean fiction. However, what is more important is the unique "Hwarangdo" spirit of the North Korean people, which influenced the creative mindset of writers and the reading preferences of readers. As demonstrated in works like Nokkae-ssi Deuldeul, North Korean fiction effectively portrays both harmony and rectitude. Although North Korean fiction does not contain much explicit sexual content, it still expresses love sufficiently, meaning that the portrayal of love themes is neither rigid nor constrained. This aligns with the harmonious balance between morality and pleasure in the Hwarangdo spirit.
The Hwarangdo spirit of North Korea is the organic combination of morality and aesthetics. One of the educational principles of Hwarangdo is: "Sharpen each other with righteousness, please each other with song and joy. Wander in mountains and waters, reaching far and wide." The joyful "song and joy," combined with the disciplined and restrained "righteousness," create a balance that prevents rigidity. Moreover, the supervision of "righteousness," or moral norms, ensures that the pursuit of pleasure and play does not lead to moral decline. This philosophy is reflected in the creation of erotic fiction in North Korea. Even when depicting the seven emotions and six desires of men and women, the works maintain a sense of "moderation" and do not escalate to the level of "obscene books" that were condemned in the Ming and Qing periods.
It is worth noting that even today, South Korea is arguably the country that preserves the most Confucian ethics in the world. Confucianism has had a widespread and profound influence on South Korean society, which is directly related to the uninterrupted education and activities centered around Confucianism. Whether in ancient times or modern times, South Korea has inherited China's Confucian traditions, emphasizing the ethical values of society, which have played a significant role in maintaining the purity of social customs and improving the moral standards of the entire population.